UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
- Texas
- Orthodontics
- dentistry.uth.edu
Program Contact
7500 Cambridge, Ste. 5130, Houston, Texas, 77054
The Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics is a 26-month graduate program leading to a certificate and master of science degree.
The program currently accepts six students per year (with a seventh position reserved for a dentist in military service). The program is clinically-based with approximately 65 percent of the time devoted to clinical treatment, 20 percent to didactic instruction and 15 percent to research and teaching activities. The student is introduced to orthodontics with an intense course in radiographic cephalometry and diagnosis and treatment planning. Patient care begins within the first week of the program and culminates with comprehensive case examinations at the end of the final year. The broad clinical experience is complemented by didactic studies in basic and clinical sciences that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Dental Association.
Courses in the first year provide the student with the scientific knowledge, biomechanical principles and orthodontic techniques required to diagnose, plan treatment and correct routine and complex malocclusions of growing and skeletally mature patients. Topics include: growth and development, diagnosis and treatment planning, cephalometrics and radiology, biomechanics and appliance design, dentofacial orthognathic surgery, clinical photography, current and classical literature review and orthodontic treatment/case management.
Courses in the second year provide the student with advanced knowledge in orthodontic diagnosis, case management and treatment techniques. Various approaches to routine orthodontic tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics, surgical orthodontics and techniques for the management of the cleft lip and palate/craniofacial deformity patient are presented. Topics include: growth and development, biomechanics, adjunctive orthodontic procedures, radiology/radiographic imaging techniques, craniofacial deformities, dentofacial orthopedics, interdisciplinary comprehensive care, temporomandibular disorders, surgical orthodontics, literature review, clinical orthodontics and risk management.
The final six months of the educational program will focus on completion of research projects and thesis preparation. Emphasis will also be placed on the detailing and finishing of all remaining clinical cases under treatment. Finishing and review of these cases will prepare the resident for ABO board certification. In addition, residents will employ their diagnostic and treatment planning skills for evaluation of new patients in screening clinics.
The clinical faculty is exemplary and provides the student the education necessary to practice clinically efficient orthodontics. Graduates of the orthodontic program are encouraged to become board certified. All students complete a research project for the master of science degree. In addition to a thesis, a publishable version of the research is required. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students receive a certificate in orthodontics and a master of science degree.
Program Information
| Accreditation | This program is accredited by CODA |
|---|---|
| Program Type | Orthodontics |
| Program Code | ORTHO904 |
| Degrees Offered | Certificate, Masters |
| Program Size | 6 |
| Program Length | 26 months |
| Application Deadline | September 1 |
| Program Start Date | July 1 |
| Supplemental Application | No |
| Supplemental Fee | No |
| Stipend Offered | No |
| Match Participating | Yes |
| Program Website | dentistry.uth.edu |
Application Requirements
Required Standardized Tests
- GRE
- INBDE
- NBDE1
- NBDE2
- TOEFL
- Passing the INBDE before the Match deadline
Transcript Evaluation and Instructions
All transcripts must be submitted through ADEA PASS, transcripts submitted outside of ADEA PASS will not be reviewed.
Letters of Evaluation Instructions
Submit all letters of evaluation through ADEA PASS, letters sent outside of ADEA PASS will not be reviewed.
TOEFL Requirement Instructions
TOEFL required for non-US trained applicants without U.S. citizenship or residency.
Minimum score of 300.
Other Requirement Instructions
All exam results must be submitted by the last Friday in September.
International Student Eligibility
This program will consider applicants who graduated, or plan to graduate, from a non-CODA accredited dental school: No
Applicants are eligible to enroll if they are:
- US Citizen
- US Permanent Resident
- Canadian Citizen
- Canadian Permanent Resident
- Non-US Citizen who is a graduate of a CODA accredited dental program (Applicant must obtain their own sponsorship)
Interview Schedule
30-35 applicants will be selected for in-person interviews with a mandatory social event the evening prior. Interviews will be completed within 3 hours, and the applicant is free to leave (or stay) after their interview is completed.
Interviews (approximately 3 hours in length) will be held on October 22 and 23, 2026.
If your interview falls on October 22, your social event will be held on the evening of October 21.
If your interview is scheduled for October 23, your social event will be held the evening of October 22.
There are two airports in the Houston area. The closest is Hobby Airport, but it serves more regional airlines. George Bush (IAH) is the primary airport for Houston, TX, but travel times to the dental school may vary based on time of day. Book your travel times accordingly.
Additional Information
Please email your 2x2 photo in jpeg format to Adriana.C.Cavender@uth.tmc.edu . Include your name as it appears on your application along with your application ID.
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All application documents must be submitted through ADEA PASS, with the exception of the 2x2 photo.
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Preferences will be given to those applicants who apply through PASS to MATCH programs only.
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Please visit the following link for more information on Gift Aid at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston): Information about Gift Aid